Natwar Sarangi of Odisha is an extraordinary farmer, collecting and trying several hundred traditional varieties of paddy and redistributing them to willing farmers.

The state government is promoting a significant conversion to organic farming, and opening "livelihood schools” (first such schools in India) for this purpose. A total of 50,000 hectares of land belonging to around 62,000 families will be covered under organic farming by 2015.

While more and more men (who hold the title to their farms) are migrating to urban areas and large industrialised farms, women stay in the villages and are increasingly taking over cultivating the land. In Narsenahalli village, women now fear that the lands may be sold or pawned by their menfolk. So they are demanding the right to the title deeds.

Faced with crop losses because of erratic rainfall and extreme weather, tribal farmers of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh turn to bewar and penda forms of cultivation on land considered inferior, that keeps them nourished all times of the year, but government agencies are bent on rooting out these farm practices

Janapada Seva Encounter with octogenarian Surendra Kaulogi and his sons, Santosh and Sughosh and their commitment to the weaving community through the Janapada Seva Trust at Melkote in Karnataka, India

Communities can conserve forests and make a living out of it. Then why is the government playing spoilsport?

A historical description of the Navdanya Seed Conservation Farm and University in Dehradun

Jharcraft, a state government initiative, has helped transform the lives of 2.5 lakh families with support for reviving, enhancing, and marketing their traditional crafts. Local craft-based institutions have also been strengthened.

Mangalajodi villagers have displayed a strong commitment to protect migratory and resident waterbirds at the edge of Chilika lake, Odisha.